Author: Hamza Rufai

SENATOR representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said Nigeria’s lingering insecurity could be decisively tackled within six months if the Federal Government demonstrates sufficient commitment. Ndume stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by News Point Nigeria, where he expressed concern over the recent escalation of violence, particularly in the North-East. The lawmaker stressed that beyond complaints, what is required is decisive action and political will. “It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me as a senator to say why these things. I always believe that…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced a new venue for its national convention scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday, April 14. News Point Nigeria reports that earlier on Monday, the ADC said it was denied access to both Eagle Square and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium for its convention. The opposition party said it had written to the office of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, seeking permission to use Eagle Square, but although the letter was acknowledged, no official response had been received. But in another statement, the ADC said the national convention will take place at the…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that the caucus made its position known following its inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where members reviewed recent political developments and expressed deep concern about the credibility of the electoral umpire. In a strongly worded resolution issued after the meeting, the lawmakers accused Prof. Amupitan of actions and statements…

NIGERIA’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered an immediate asset freeze of the 13 new alleged terrorism-linked entities across the capital market. News Point Nigeria reports that a directive titled ‘Commission’s sweeping compliance directive issued to capital market operators’, noted that the move was after the 10 individuals and three entities were designated and blacklisted on the Nigeria Sanctions List by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee. The Commission anchored its directive on provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which mandates the immediate freezing of all funds, assets, and economic resources linked to the named persons and organisations…

THE Northern Youth Advancement Coalition (NYAC) has congratulated Engr. Jibril S Danpullo on his marriage to his heartthrob, Ikram Atiku Bagudu, daughter of the Minister of Budget an d National Planning as well as former Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu. The wedding ceremony, which took place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, has continued to attract goodwill messages from across the country, particularly from youth-focused organisations and stakeholders who have closely followed the groom’s contributions to youth development in Northern Nigeria. In a joint statement issued late on Sunday, the Chairman of NYAC, Ibrahim Muktar Aliyu, Ph.D, and the Secretary, Sani…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that members aspiring to contest its 2027 presidential primary will pay a total of N100 million for nomination, comprising N30 million for the expression of interest form and N70 million for the nomination form. News Point Nigeria reports that in the same structure, governorship aspirants are to pay N10 million for the expression of interest form and N40 million for the nomination form as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections. The party disclosed this in a two-page document outlining the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, signed on…

THE Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports of Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship but still carry the documents. A statement to News Point Nigeria by Special Adviser, Media to the Minister of Interior, Alao Babatunde, however, clarified that the directive applied only to Nigerians whose requests for renunciation have been formally approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Minister maintained that the Ministry of Interior, saddled with the responsibility of citizenship integrity, derives the power from the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of Section 29 of the…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to contest the 2027 general election under its own platform, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to discontinue recognising the party’s leadership over a court order. News Point Nigeria reports that appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi expressed confidence that the opposition party will overcome all hurdles ahead. “One thing I can guarantee is that we will contest the 2027 election on the ADC platform,” Abdullahi said. “Regardless of what has happened in Nigeria, we still have confidence in the…

THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced multiple defendants in separate terrorism-related cases, mostly involving members of Boko Haram, with penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment. News Point Nigeria reports that in the first case, marked FHC/KMJ/CR/583/2026, the prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, alongside B.N. Jibo and M. A. Oladunjoye, arraigned the defendant on a four-count charge bordering on membership of the Boko Haram terrorist group, provision of material support, and dealing in funds linked to the proscribed…

THE strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, scheduled to begin today, April 7, 2026, is already threatening to disrupt services across federal and state-owned hospitals nationwide. Resident doctors in Nigeria have spent a cumulative 51 days on strike since the administration of President Bola Tinubu began, a development that raises fresh concerns over the government’s ability to sustain agreements with health workers. The figure, which includes two major strikes and a warning action between 2023 and 2025, comes as doctors once again announced plans to down tools starting from today over unpaid allowances and policy reversals. News…

THE Nigeria Guild of Editors and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project have called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the alleged threat issued against Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. News Point Nigeria reports that the groups, in a joint statement by NGE President, Eze Anaba, General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, and SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Monday, condemned the remark and urged the Federal Government to “promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigate the threat.” They also called on the government to ensure the safety of Okinbaloye and other journalists.…

THE Nigerian Air Force has officially announced the list of successful candidates for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 34/2025. News Point Nigeria reports that the announcement, published on its X post by Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Ehimen Ejodame, on Saturday, follows the conclusion of the Selection Board Interview held at the NAF Base in Kaduna from January 12 to February 8, 2026. According to the NAF, the names of successful candidates are now available on the official recruitment portal at https://nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng/updates/. Successful candidates are required to commence a six-month Basic…

THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a total and indefinite nationwide strike to commence at 12am on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, following the Federal Government’s decision to stop the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table (PAT). News Point Nigeria reports that NARD described the Federal Government’s decision to remove the PAT as unfortunate and unacceptable. The association said its members had resolved to embark on a total and comprehensive strike after extensive deliberations, adding that the action would only be called off if its demands are met. Among its demands, NARD called for an immediate reversal of…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the internal storm rocking the party has subsided, announcing an open-door policy for former members seeking a return. News Point Nigeria reports that speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Wike likened politics to a game of football rather than a “fight to finish”. He urged aggrieved politicians to set aside personal differences for the sake of the party’s progress. Addressing the fallout from the party’s recent national convention, the former Rivers State governor stated that the time for…

THE Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has suffered another setback following the resignation of its Welfare Secretary, Bashir Tijjani Maisango, in what appears to be a growing wave of defections to the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections. Maisango, a prominent grassroots mobiliser and influential party figure, formally announced his exit from the APC in a resignation letter dated April 1, 2026, addressed to the state chairman of the party. In the letter obtained by News Point Nigeria, titled “Voluntary Resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, he expressed gratitude to the party for…

JUSTICE Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore against the Department of State Services (DSS), its Director General, and Meta Platforms Incorporated (formerly Facebook). News Point Nigeria reports that delivering judgment, Justice Umar resolved the three issues identified for determination against Sowore, declined to grant any of the reliefs sought, and dismissed the suit for being without merit. Sowore had claimed that Meta Platforms, acting on the instruction of the DSS and its DG, took down a post he made about President Bola Tinubu,…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark has faulted the interpretation of a recent Court of Appeal ruling by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing leadership dispute within the party. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria late on Wednesday evening, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the electoral body of yielding to political pressure. He alleged that INEC’s position was influenced by a government unsettled by the ADC’s growing influence, despite what he described as sustained efforts to weaken opposition parties and impose a one-party system. “We reject INEC’s interpretation…

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, on Wednesday held a crucial closed-door meeting with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, at the Government House in Bauchi, in what appears to be a high-stakes political move aimed at influencing the governor’s next steps ahead of the 2027 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that Yilwatda, who arrived in Bauchi alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, met with Mohammed amid intensifying speculation that the Bauchi governor may soon defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Although the meeting was held behind closed…

A FRESH wave of defections in the House of Representatives has given the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other parties more members as politicians intensify realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the notices of defection during plenary on Tuesday. Twenty-seven lawmakers defected in what is one of the major political realignments in the Green Chamber, just less than one year before Nigerians head to the polls to elect their next set of leaders. Fourteen of the defectors came into…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says he has not endorsed any candidate for the governorship or any other political office in Rivers State, except Bola Tinubu for the Presidency. News Point Nigeria reports that addressing a joint gathering of stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, on Monday night, ahead of the 2027 general elections, Wike said his only political commitment at the moment was to support Tinubu, which he said he has never hidden. According to the Minister, the mistakes…